It's Independent's Day Shawn Caffrey CGC Grader, Modern Age Specialist
No need to adjust your screen resolution, folks, you are reading the Caffrey Chronicles. Thanks to an amazing supportive fan base (all three of you), my long-"lost" column is making a return for the start of ‘07. And wow, where do I start? There have been many changes in comics since my last column. D.C. Comics’ 52 is more than halfway through its completion, tearing its way through the character-heavy universe, leaving no one safe. And there’s Marvel, with Civil War being one issue shy of its run, where we’ve seen our favorite characters’ relationships torn apart by the Registration Act. Now the question is, what else does 2007 have in store for comic fans? Once the dust settles in our favorite mainstream titles, what will be left? And where can they go from there?
These are many questions that run through my head when engrossing myself in blockbuster books, ones that forever promise to “send shockwaves” through the universe and “forever alter” certain characters’ paths. It gets difficult for me to stay patient while waiting for these types of story arcs to finish and seeing how it will affect the other titles of my favorite characters. In other words, I get bored waiting. And half the time, the payoff isn’t worth the wait. For comic fans, especially me, it’s situations like the above that always remind me why I’m so thankful for independent publishers.
There are endless independent publishers in the comic market today producing high-quality material and featuring amazing talent. Some books in particular that I highly recommend are Image Comics’ Stagger Lee, written by Derek McCulloch and drawn by Derek Sheperd. The story of the 19th century gunslinger recounting the life that led to his being forever immortalized in song, this book is superbly written, beautifully illustrated, and perfect for any reader, comic or otherwise. Staying with Image Comics, Walking Dead has remained on my list of must-reads since issue one. Putting my love for zombies aside, Robert Kirkman’s characters have taken front seat in this shocking and horrific tale of human survival, and with Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn still at the art helm, I don’t see this leaving the top of my list any time soon.
Another publisher that’s been making marks in the independent scene is Dynamite Entertainment. With properties such as Army of Darkness, Red Sonja, Battlestar Galactica, and Highlander, they’ve already established an enormous fan base in comics. CGC Pre-Grader William Bodin has been talking about Dynamite’s Lone Ranger series, written by Brett Matthews and drawn by Sergio Cariello. Besides loving the art, and the amazing covers by John Cassaday, William calls it “a modern, gritty spin on the old western tale.” After hearing William talk about it, Lone Ranger has been added to my list of future reads. Army of Darkness is another Dynamite property that I’ve personally enjoyed. It’s been exciting to see one of the greatest chainsaw-toting cult movie icons, Ash, continue battling the powers of evil where Sam Raimi’s movie series had left off.
Pre-Grader Matt Dakan recommends Strangetown from Oni Press. Though only on issue two, Matt says those issues are definitely worth picking up. Written and illustrated by Chynna Clugston-Major, “It’s a funny and fast-paced book that promises surprises,” says Matt. Well, he’s piqued my interest, and with the high-caliber titles that Oni Press releases, it’s sure to be worth it.
Dark Horse Comics has also been leaving quite the impression on us CGC’ers. For me, being a fan of Dark Horse during the Alien days, it’s great to see Dark Horse once again becoming a major force in the indie arena. Of course, Dark Horse’s major property is Star Wars, and I figured that CGC’s resident Star Wars expert and fanatic, Josh Hanin, would jump at the chance to make a recommendation. “Star Wars Legacy is the future of Star Wars…literally,” says Josh. “Taking place 140 years after Return of the Jedi, this comic breathes new life into the Star Wars universe, and introduces many new ideas and characters. It’s like a whole new galaxy to explore, yet it never forgets the past events that helped shape it.” With writing by John Ostrander, art by Jan Duursema, and many of the issues’ covers drawn by Adam Hughes, it sounds like Josh is right — where can anyone go wrong?
So during your next visit to the LCS (local comic shop), when disappointment hits after finding out that everyone’s favorite “biggest event” titles have been delayed, keep walking along the rack with eyes peeled for some of the aforementioned titles. With so much material out there, it’s an exciting time to be a comic book fan, so take advantage of it.
